Apparatus for transferring packages to moving cars



(No Model.)

W. H. ELLIOT. APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING PACKAGES TO MOVING CARS.

No. 406,343. Patented July 2, 1889..

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N. PETERS. Phnio-Lilhngnphur. Wnhinginn. D- ll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. ELLIOT, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING PACKAGES TO MOVING CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 406,343, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed November 26. 1888- Serial No. 291,943. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM H. ELLIOT, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Transferring Packages to Moving Cars or Trains, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and practical means for transferring packages of goods and mail-matter to cars while moving at high speed; and the nature of my invention consists in the novel assemblage of certain elements, which are fully set forth in the following specification and claims. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a car, showing the several devices for receiving packages thereto attached, with the side of the car removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing all of the car-body removed down to the platform, with a portion of the platform cut away to show the truck and the three-armed lever for operating the train-receiver. Fig. 3 isaplan View of a train package-receiver, showing the open and closed position in relation to the valve. Fig. 4 is a horizontalsection of a trainreceiver, showing the circular chamber and entrance-spout hinged thereto.

My improvements refer to inventions shown in my patents of November 16, 1875, No. 169,896, and March 7, 1876, No. 174,357, to which, in connection with this application, I desire to call special attention.

My improved train-receiver is located below the floor of the car and between the front and rear wheels or between the trucks. This device is composed of two principal partsthecircular or curved chamber 5, arranged upon a vertical axis, and the entrance-spout b. This latter device swings out from under the car, as shown in Fig. 2, to receive the packages, and may be joined rigidly to the circular chamber and swing upon the axis of that device, as seen in Fig. 3; or it may be joined to the circular chamber by a hinge b and swing upon the axis of the hinge, as shownin Figs. 2 and-4. This device has adiagonal out 19 in its upper side, as shown in Fig. 3, which serves as a diagonal edge to crowd the suspending-links off the hooks and so liberate For convenience in manipulating the trainreceiver I employ the three-armed lever 01, having its fulcrum on the car, the central or long arm n being connected to the train-receiver by means of link 71?. To the end of each of the short arms I attach a cord n These cords run back under the floor of the car, pass under pulleys o o, and up to and around cylinder 0, which is operated by crank 0 These cords are independentof each other and act independently. One cord, when the cylinder is turned in one direction, forces the mouth of the entrance-spout out to receive packages, while turning the cylinder in the oppositev direction carries the mouth of the entrance-spout under the car out of the way.

To fasten these devices in the positions they are required to be in, I employ a' pawl and ratchet or anyother means of locking the cylinder. To protect the train-receiver from having rain or dust blown into its mouth, I employ the curved shield or cover '1". This device is bolted in a fixed position to the car, as shown in Fig. 2. As the mouth of the entrance-spout is carried under the car, it comes closely upon the stationary plate or valve, and so covers the mouth of the entrance-spout and closes it effectually, as seen in Fig. 4.

By reference to Fig. 1 it may be seen that the rectangular space formed by the trussbeam 1', truss-posts 2' and truss-rod i is conveniently adapted to furnish the necessary space under the car for the work-ing and housing of the train-receiver without using valuable space for that purpose and without weakening any part of the apparatus. 7

The circular chamber b is left open on its upper side, but is covered by the floor of the car. This floor is provided with openings which are covered by trap-doors s s, that serve the double purpose of a floor to walk upon and a cover to the circular chamber. These trap-doors may be made of slats, so that the operator may conveniently see the contents of the receiver through them.

The arrangement of a segmental bottom r of the circular chamber between and below the truss-rods 2' enables me, without increasing the depth of the truss, to obtain much more space within the circular chamber, necessary to the smooth working of this part of the apparatus.

Promising that the several devices have been correctly arranged in relation to each other, particularly so that the packages carried upon the deliverers shall pass without interference into the entrance-spout, the operation of my improved apparatus will be as follows: As the train passes the station the packages or bags pass into the mouth of the train-receiver, where the links come against the diagonal edge of the receiver and are c 'owded off the hooks, when, the 16lLlTI.6 movement of the bags and receiver being continued, the bags pass into the circuh r chamber and around within it till their momentum is lost in friction.

Itmay be observed in relation to the arrangement of devices herein shown that all of the machinery of the car is located below and outside of the car-body, except the drum and crank or lever by which said machinery is operated, leaving the whole of the inside space of the car, with that exccptiointo be devoted to the handling of its contents.

llaving described my invention, I desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A train-receiver consisting of a car provided with a receiving-chamber below the floor of the same and an entrance-spout leading to said chamber, substantially as described.

2. A train-receiver consisting of the combination, with a suitable car or truck, of a circular chamber or receptacle below the floor of.the car and a mouth or entrance-spout leading to said chamber, substantially as described.

3. A train-receiver consisting of the combi- 11ltiO1",Wltll a suitable car, of a chamber below the floor of the car and a movable entrance-spout, substantially as described.

t. A train-receiver consisting of the combination, with a suitable car, of a chamber below the floor of the car, a movable entrancespout, and a stationarycover for capping said spout, substantially as described.

5. In a car for receiving packages while in motion, the combination of a chamber below the floor of the car, a floor provided with an opening leading from said chamber, and an entrance-spout leading to said chamber, substantially as described.

0. In acar for receiving packages while in motion, the combination of an entrance-spout leading to a chamber, a chamber below the floor ot' the car, a floor having an opening leading from the chamber to the interior of the car, and a trap-door for closing the opening, substantially as described.

7. In a car for receiving packages while in motion, and having a truss, substantially as described, a chamber below the floor of the car, and an entrance-spout leading through the truss to the chamber, substantially as described.

8. In a car for receiving packages while in motion, and having a truss, substantially as described, a chamberprovided with a spherical bottom and arranged below the lloor of the car, and an entrance-spout leading through the truss to said chamber, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a package-receiver, a vibratory entrance-spout, and means for operating said spout, consisting of a crank-lever, a link for connecting the lever and the spout, a drum or Windlass, and rope or cord for connecting the drum and lover, substantially as described.

' WM. ll. ELLIOT.

Witnesses:

M. L. ELLIOT,

LOWELL ELLIoT. 

